Self-Disclosure in Spouse and Stranger Interaction A Social Relations Analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine self-disclosure as both a personality trait and an interaction process. Forty men and women engaged in dyadic conversations with three same and three opposite-sex strangers and their spouses on each of three occasions. The conversations were coded for type of self-disclosure (descriptive vs. evaluative) and level of intimacy. The data were analyzed using Social Relations Analysis. The results of the study provided little support for individual differences in self-disclosure. In general, individuals were inconsistent in how much they self-disclosed to others and in how much self-disclosure they elicited from others. There were no sex differences in self-disclosure. There was qualified support for the process model of self-disclosure. The level of the relationship (spouse vs. stranger) affected self-disclosure, and self-disclosure was reciprocal for both spouses and strangers. However, there were no relationship differences in self-disclosure and self-disclosure was not related to liking.